By Caron Schwartz
Today I left the house feeling achy and blah. I’m back feeling calm, energized, and ready to write. The secret? An hour of Tai Chi.
The St. Pete Beach Rec Center’s Tai Chi class focuses on breath and movement accompanied by soothing spa-treatment music and a view of Boca Ciega Bay. Instructor Gary talks about the health benefits of the practice while he and his assistants demonstrate the movements. He frequently reminds students to BREATHE. It’s fun and healthful, but it’s not my Tai Chi family.
My Tai Chi practice began not long after I moved to Gulfport. Balance issues brought me to Tai Chi at the Casino, and the twice-weekly class became my refuge. I fell in love with the slow, graceful Yang-style 24 practice. Like any beginner I felt klutzy, of course. But the teamwork was intoxicating, when the group moves at the same speed and rhythm there’s a magical sense of wholeness and community.
There have been many stops and starts. Covid closed everything. When we finally could reenter the Casino we had to wear masks. Then our beloved instructors, Richard and Sam, left. Another disruption. Volunteers Carol, Lynn, Jan, and Pam took on leadership, bringing our Tai Chi family back together.
Alas, our Historic Casino was a victim of last fall’s storms. There’s always been an outdoor practice at 8am, when I haven’t even had a second cup of coffee. Nope.
I didn’t waste time moping. I experimented with Taoist Tai Chi classes at Allendale United Methodist Church, but Yang-Style 108 was over my head, even with beginner instruction. Today’s St. Pete Beach Yang-Style 12 has been a sweet godsend.
And after months of wondering when the Casino will be brought back to life, our original group is meeting at the Gulfport Neighborhood Center one day a week. We don’t have the comfy wooden dance floor, but we have each other and our practice.